Tag: Opinion

Dick Cheney Warns of New Attacks

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I should have named this “The mad rantings of the Eternal Neo-Con”, But I figured I’d try to be fair.

Video:

The Story:

Former Vice President Dick Cheney warned that there is a “high probability” that terrorists will attempt a catastrophic nuclear or biological attack in coming years, and said he fears the Obama administration’s policies will make it more likely the attempt will succeed.

In an interview Tuesday with Politico, Cheney unyieldingly defended the Bush administration’s support for the Guantanamo Bay prison and coercive interrogation of terrorism suspects.

And he asserted that President Obama will either backtrack on his stated intentions to end those policies or put the country at risk in ways more severe than most Americans — and, he charged, many members of Obama’s own team — understand.

“When we get people who are more concerned about reading the rights to an Al Qaeda terrorist than they are with protecting the United States against people who are absolutely committed to do anything they can to kill Americans, then I worry,” Cheney said.

via Cheney warns of new attacks — Politico.com.

For the record, I believe that he does have a point about the Gitmo detainees. However, I believe that the mentality that they will attack us right away is wishful thinking on his part.

Are the Democrats secretly attempting to bring back the fairness doctrine?

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This is a very dangerous thing, Conservatives and Republicans ought to be raising the roof about this.

Despite the absence of any action pending to re-enact the so-called “Fairness Doctrine,” congressional Republicans have nonetheless introduced legislation to prevent its passage, insisting that Democrats are advancing a quiet agenda to silence conservative talk radio.

Whether Americans realize it or not, say Republican lawmakers, “Free speech is under attack.”

For their part, several Democrats have denied there’s any attempt underway to reestablish the “Fairness Doctine,” insisting the GOP is trumping up paranoia that amounts to “much ado about nothing.”

So which is it?

In 1949 the Federal Communications Commission adopted a policy that required broadcasters to devote airtime to the public interest and to air opposing viewpoints when discussing controversial and political issues. The FCC abandoned the policy in 1987, paving the way for talk radio to explode from fewer than 150 stations nationwide to more than 3,000.

The majority of the country’s talk radio programs are politically conservative, prompting some, as WND has reported, to long for a more “balanced” menu.

“For many, many years, we operated under a Fairness Doctrine in this country,” Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., told Albuquerque radio station KKOB last year. “I think the country was well-served. I think the public discussion was at a higher level and more intelligent in those days than it has become since.”

Former broadcaster Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., however, sees the policy as an attack on First Amendment rights.

“Bringing back the Fairness Doctrine would amount to government control over political views expressed on the public airwaves,” Pence has said in opposition to the policy. “It is a dangerous proposal to suggest the government should be in the business of rationing free speech.”

via Is there sinister plot to squelch talk radio? — WorldNetDaily.

Let me give you my opinion. That is what Blogs are all about, political opinion and discussion. I believe that the “fairness doctrine,” is nothing more pure communism. Control of free speech in America. FDR instituted it during World War II to control dissent towards the War. It was called Communism at that time, by many Conservatives of that era and it still IS communist in nature as far as I am concerned. The reason I say this, is because it is the same thing that Hitler did in Germany and what the Soviets did in Russia, they controlled freedom of speech to quell dissent. (Yes, I know, Hitler was not a communist!)

However, on a more practical level. I do not believe that the Democrats will succeed in bringing it back. Why? Because the Government does not have the resources to enforce such a law. Heck, the FCC has been cutting down staff since the 1980’s, because the high costs of maintaining the huge staff. Examples, The FCC has basically turned over the examination process of the Amateur Radio Service over to the Amateur Radio community themselves. The enforcement is there, but you have to be doing something rather obnoxious to get a visit from the FCC anymore. The Amateur Radio Service is essentially self policed. So, I seriously doubt that even something like this was even passed, that the FCC would even bother to enforce it. I also believe that it will never get to a vote, because there would be a push back within the FCC to stop it, because of the lack of enforcement funding.

So, while I believe that this is a huge political issue, and that Conservatives everywhere ought to stay on top of it. I just do not believe that one; it will ever pass and two, that the FCC would even bother enforcing it.

India warns that Obama “is barking up the wrong Tree” when it comes to Kashmir

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This might present a challenge to the new President:

India has warned US President Barack Obama that he risks “barking up the wrong tree” if he seeks to broker a settlement between Pakistan and India over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

MK Narayanan, India’s national security advisor, said that the new US administration was in danger of dredging up out of date Clinton administration-era strategies in a bid to bring about improved ties between the two nuclear armed neighbours.

“I do think that we could make President Obama understand, if he does nurse any such view, that he is barking up the wrong tree. I think Kashmir today has become one of the quieter and safer places in this part of the world,” Mr Narayanan said in an interview with CNBC TV18.

“It’s possible that at this time there are elements, perhaps in the administration who are harking back to the pre-2000 era.”

The warning comes as Richard Holbrooke, Mr Obama’s special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, prepares to come to the region for the first time in his new capacity. Mr Narayanan is close to Manmohan Singh, India’s prime minister, and Sonia Gandhi, the president of the ruling Congress Party.

via FT.com – India warns Obama over Kashmir.

It seems that Obama is not going to the force that rights all the wrongs that are in the world after all.  This will another in a series of challenges for the new President. I wonder what he will do in response?

(H/T Drudge)

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Ouch: US Loses two major supply lines to Afghanistan

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This is not good, at all:

The U.S.-led campaign against the Taliban suffered two logistical blows Tuesday as the president of Kyrgyzstan announced that he’d shut a U.S. airbase in his country and insurgents in Pakistan blew up a bridge, disrupting the main U.S. supply route into Afghanistan.

The developments were the latest reminders of the vulnerability of the long and complex transportation system on which the 60,000 U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan depend for fuel, ammunition, construction materials and a great deal more.

The announcement by Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev that he will close the Manas Air Base also gave President Barack Obama a first taste of the challenge he faces from Russia, which is trying to restore its clout in countries that were part of the former Soviet Union.

Bakiyev made his announcement in Moscow, not in his own capital, shortly after the Russian government reportedly agreed to lend Kyrgyzstan $2 billion, write off $180 million in debt and add another $150 million in aid. The timing and place of the announcement indicated the Kremlin’s involvement.

“It’s a direct challenge to the new American administration. Russia is going out of its way to close an American base,” said Pavel Felgenhauer, a Moscow-based military analyst.

via McClatchy Washington Bureau — U.S. supply routes to Afghanistan suffer two huge blows.

I tend to agree with Ed Morrissey who writes:

The problem was never in Krygyzstan.  Biden predicted that world leaders would challenge Obama and his inexperience within the first few months of the adminstration, but they’ve already started to line up in the first few days.  Iran launched a satellite on an ICBM to show they could go ballistic once they have nuclear weapons.  North Korea reportedly has set up another ICBM for a test to threaten Seoul.  Now Russia has flipped an ally in the war on terror — and all of this in the first 14 days of Obama’s presidency.

Indeed, I believe this is simply Russia trying to test Obama, to see how he will react. Also, Russia is having problems with it’s people. They are bit angry about the problems with the economy. As I so blogged about yesterday. It could very well be that Putin is attempting to save face with the citizens of Russia by trying to show a little aggression towards Obama and by proxy; America.

Obama: “I screwed up”

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This is pretty bad.

“I screwed up,” President Barack Obama told NBC’s Brian Williams Tuesday in the wake of his nominee to be secretary of health and human services, Tom Daschle, withdrawing his name from consideration.

Daschle dropped out after acknowledging that he had belatedly paid more than $128,000 in taxes owed to the federal government.

“Today was an embarrassment for us,” Obama said. He said he was “angry,” “disappointed” and “frustrated with myself” over the Daschle episode.

via Obama: ‘I screwed up’ in Daschle withdrawal  msnbc.com.

I guess the whole idea of Obama being the Messiah is basically shot in the butt now, ain’t it?

The Video:

Man, it’s only 2 weeks into his term. Good lord, I’m going to have material for four years.

Breaking Local News – G.M. to offer buyout packages to all union employees.

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This is interesting…:


General Motors Corp. will offer buyouts to all of its hourly employees, a spokesman confirmed Tuesday, as the troubled automaker continues to slash costs.

GM spokesman Tony Sapienza said the buyouts will mainly target GM’s 22,000 retirement-eligible hourly employees, though any union employee can take the offer.

News of the buyouts first broke on Monday. A union official told The Associated Press then that GM would offer $20,000 in cash and a $25,000 car voucher for workers who retire early and those who simply leave the company. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because workers were not yet notified of the packages.

via GM To Offer Buyouts To All Hourly Employees — WDIV Detroit.

Just another sign of the times. For the record, G.M. has done this in the past, when times were bad. Hopefully some of the guys that have been with the company and are about ready to retire will take this buy out. Hopefully, this will help the problem and G.M. will become viable.

Daschle is out

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Another one bits the dust! I guess I was quite wrong, I thought Daschle would ride it out. I guess not.


Former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle on Tuesday withdrew his nomination to oversee the Health and Human Services Department, just a few hours after another Obama nominee also withdrew.

Both had controveries with taxes.

Earlier Tuesday, Nancy Killefer withdrew as President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the first chief performance officer for the federal government.

via Daschle withdraws Obama nomination – White House- msnbc.com.

While it might be sad, I think it is for the best. If one is going to preach hope and change, it is best to abide by that principle. I believe also it was because of the Democrat backlash as well.

What is it with Democrats and Taxes?

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Another Obama appointment, under the bus!

I’m starting to notice a pattern here…:

Nancy Killefer withdrew her candidacy to be the first chief performance officer for the federal government on Tuesday, saying she didn’t want her bungling of payroll taxes on her household help to become a distraction for the Obama administration.

Killefer was the second major nominee to withdraw and the third to have tax problems complicate nominations after President Barack Obama announced he had chosen them.

In a brief letter to Obama, the 55-year-old executive with consulting giant McKinsey & Co. wrote that she had “come to realize in the current environment that my personal tax issue of D.C. unemployment tax could be used to create exactly the kind of distraction and delay” that must be avoided in responding to urgent economic problems.

She offered no further details of her tax difficulties.

via Obama performance chief Killefer out, citing taxes – Yahoo! News.

Man, for a group of politicians who are much keen on taxing the snot out of everyone, the Democrats don’t seem to be very keen on paying them!

Others: Michelle Malkin, Townhall.com, Neptunus Lex, Don Surber, Breitbart.tv, protein wisdom and Outside The Beltway

(via Memeorandum)

Should we give incentive bonuses to Wall Street Watchdogs?

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I have fixed feelings about this, and I will explain why a little further down.

An Article in the New York Times Dealbook Column asks a question whether Wall Street Regulators or Watchdogs should get performance bonuses.

Maybe someone deserves a bonus.

Like someone who sniffs out the next Bernie Madoff. Or jousts with tomorrow’s gonzo bankers. Or defuses the Next Big Crisis in whatever Next Big Thing is dreamed up by Wall Street.

Someone, in short, who regulates.

It is clear that the nation’s financial regulators were no match for Wall Street last time. The financiers were always one step ahead. But maybe that isn’t surprising. The financiers, after all, have a big incentive to outsmart the financial police. It is called a bonus. Wall Street lures a lot of bright minds with money. How can federal agencies compete? They can’t.

So, of course, The Government of Singapore’s head honcho says we ought to incentivize watchdog process.

Tony Tan Keng Yam, deputy chairman and executive director of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, suggested that one reason American regulators fell down on the job was that they were paid too little.

“You must have as good people working in the government in the regulatory authorities as those that are working in the private sector,” Mr. Tan said. “You do need, particularly in these very difficult times, capable people in central banks, in government, in the Treasury who can effectively supervise.”

Mr. Tan knows about this firsthand. He is a former regulator himself, and Singapore has a different view about compensation.

“We pay our politicians and our government servants very well,” he said. “We lock remuneration to the market.”

While Singapore’s watchdogs aren’t paid enough to afford private planes, some in top positions make seven-figure salaries.

At first blush, this would seem to be a great idea; however, if you think about it closely, this would not be such a good idea. Because of the following:

Some at Davos thought the bonus idea could work. But anxiety over that approach was palpable. “They already treat us like criminals,” one hedge fund manager said.

A few said giving bonuses to regulators would be like giving bonuses to the police for issuing speeding tickets. Maybe the regulators, like Wall Streeters, would start thinking about the money, rather than what is right. But maybe that’s exactly what Wall Street needs to slow down.

I must say, that I highly disagree with this idea. Why? While I believe that moderate regulation is a good idea on Wall Street; I believe that incentivizing the Wall Street watchdog process will result in a overzealous regulatory process, that will be solely based upon monitory compensation. This would be absolutely disastrous to the free market process in America. As well all know we already law enforcement that borderlines upon a police state. Doing this to Wall Street would cause a fear mentality amongst the financial sector and discourage investment.

We need regulation, not a financial police state.

Groundhog Bites Man?

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Some days it does not pay to get out of bed. As Mayor Bloomberg found out.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg paid a visit to an apparently-disgruntled constituent nicknamed ‘Staten Island Chuck’ on Groundhog’s Day — and got bit for his trouble.

Staten Island’s famous groundhog, Charles G. Hogg, inexplicably bit Mayor Bloomberg during his annual holiday ceremony on Monday, drawing blood from the billionaire.

Said Bloomberg spokesman Stu Loeser: “It nicked his hand.”

Bloomberg wrapped the cut with a napkin until he could check with his doctor.

He was told there was no risk of rabies. The 2-year-old animal was born and raised in captivity and has had no interaction with other animals.

via Groundhog bites Bloomberg at ceremony — Newsday.com.

I bet that had to smart. Ouch!

Others: Political Machine and Don Surber

New York Times turns on Daschle appointment

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Now this is a switch!  It seems that the cheerleader section for the Obama Administration has basically thrown one of their own under the bus. How quaint.

Via the Ol’ Gray Lady:

When President Obama nominated former Senator Tom Daschle to be his secretary of health and human services, it seemed to be a good choice. Mr. Daschle, as the co-author of a book on health care reform, knew a lot about one of the president’s signature issues. As a former Senate majority leader, he also knew a lot about guiding controversial bills through Congress, where he remains liked and respected by former colleagues.

Unfortunately, new facts have come to light — involving his failure to pay substantial taxes that were owed and his sizable income from health-related companies while he worked in the private sector — that call into question his suitability for the job. We believe that Mr. Daschle ought to step aside and let the president choose a less-blemished successor.

Mr. Daschle’s tax shortfall is particularly troubling because it comes on the heels of another nominee’s failure to pay taxes due. We were not pleased when the president’s Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, admitted that he had failed to pay tens of thousands of dollars in federal self-employment taxes while working for the International Monetary Fund despite having signed paperwork acknowledging the obligation.

Now we are confronted with an even larger lapse by Mr. Daschle, who failed to pay $128,000 in taxes, primarily for personal use of a car and driver provided to him by a private equity firm for which he consulted. Although the firm — headed by a major Democratic donor — had not issued a form 1099 for the value of the car service, Mr. Daschle said he became concerned last June that he might owe taxes on it and instructed his accountant to investigate. Neither was concerned enough to actually pay the taxes.

[……]

In both the Geithner and Daschle cases, the failure to pay taxes is attributed to unintentional oversights. But Mr. Daschle is one oversight case too many. The American tax system depends heavily on voluntary compliance. It would send a terrible message to the public if we ignore the failure of yet another high-level nominee to comply with the tax laws.

[…..]

Mr. Daschle is another in a long line of politicians who move cozily between government and industry. We don’t know that his industry ties would influence his judgments on health issues, but they could potentially throw a cloud over health care reform. Mr. Daschle could clear the atmosphere by withdrawing his name.

I could sit here and tell you, that I am shocked that the New York Times is turning on this appointment. But honestly? I am not, and I will tell you why. Honesty and integrity go a long way in Government. It would be derelict of me, however not to point out that a few other Senators are guilty of the same thing. Like Al Franken and Charlie Rangel for instance. As this article above says, our tax system, as unfair and heavy handed as it might seem to some, does rely heavily on a voluntary compliance. The question is what kind of message does it sent to the American people, if we have tax cheats in our high ranking offices in the United States Government? Not a very good one, I am afraid.

The real question is; will President Obama heed the advice of the New York Times? Something tells me that he will not, because Obama has said in the past, that he is not going to make decisions based upon what other people think. (Kind of like the guy that proceeded him….) So, it will be interesting to watch this unfold. Obama, the man whom basically the New York Times and other Liberal media outlets elected basically tells those same people to stow it and does what he wants to. Now that will make for some interesting blogging!

Update: It is being reported now, by various outlets that Tom Daschle has withdrawn his name.

Others on the subject:  Commentary,  Hot Air, , Soccer Dad, Power Line,  Riehl World View

(Via Memeorandum)

Daniel Larison on Michael Steele

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An interesting point of view

Money Quote:

Curious to see what Steele had to say, I watched the interview he gave on FoxNews, and I can’t say I was all that impressed. To what did he attribute the GOP’s political decline over the last two cycles? Naturally, it was spending. That was it. Spending. It’s not just that he didn’t address the GOP’s failures in foreign policy and its errors in anti-terrorism, which I would have been interested to hear, but that this was the only reason he gave, which suggests that he thinks the main solution to GOP woes is to come out against spending (unless, of course, it relates to “defense”).

Read the Rest

The Democrats have a new negro to kick around

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I used that title for a reason, because the Democratic Party has a new threat to their propaganda machine. A black Republican Party leader.

The Democratic Party’s Racist roots come out. Check it:

via Talking Points Memo | Straight Outta Hooverville:

It gets better. The latest from RNC Chair Michael Steele: “Not in the history of mankind has the government ever created a job.”

This is such transparent nonsense it’s hard to know where to start; but I guess it builds on the DeMint nonsense. Has Steele ever heard of government road building? Defense spending? NASA? We don’t even need to get into the many ways that government spending on many things has spin-off effects in terms of heightened economic productivity either because of technological innovation or transportation efficiencies, or whatever. How we doing on the spending on research and initial deployment that created the Internet?

Wolf Blitzer was doing the interview. I guess he didn’t realize this is a false statement? I’m worried about Wolf. He needs some help.


Wow. I have not heard this much chutzpah out of the Democratic Party. The Spirit of George Wallace, a Democrat; lives again! I have never, ever heard this sort of tenor of criticism towards Mike Duncan, at all.  Before you know it, the Democrats will be dragging out the old Klan outfits and burning crosses on this man’s front lawn. (anyone that really knows their history, like I do; knows what I am referring to.)

You see a black Republican leader is a threat, a threat to the Liberal Black Propaganda machine, that the Republican Party is the Party of the “White Rich Man”. So much for that idea! It also nullifies the very stupid notion that the White Republican Party is out to get, or is oppressive or hostile towards the Black man.

I also noticed that the Democrats are ridiculing Mr. Steel for not having much of a resume. Well, the last time I check, that floppy-eared Marxist in the White House doesn’t have much of a resume either! So much for experience argument eh? Between the one above and this douche nozzle here, the next four years ought to be very interesting.

Recieved via e-mail

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This popped in my in box:

Citizens Against Government Waste

Dear Newsmax Reader,

Democratic congressional leaders and the Obama Administration have hyped the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 as an urgent and essential “economic stimulus” package. This bill would be more aptly titled, the Pelosi-Reid Borrow-and-Spend Act!

The Senate is planning to vote on S.1, its version of the “stimulus,” this week. We can defeat it if all of the Republican members of the Senate vote NO, as their Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives did. I urge you to send a powerful message to your U.S. Senators today that you oppose this bloated, ill-conceived plan!

The $819 billion “stimulus” package approved by the House last week and the nearly $900 billion version now under consideration in the Senate would add to a federal deficit already projected to reach a record $1.2 trillion this year. This bill is not only one of the largest spending measures ever to pass through Congress, it will cost more over two years than we’ve spent to date on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan!

The bill’s ability to fulfill its stated mission of stimulating the economy is also questionable at best. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has concluded that more than half of the hundreds of billions of dollars in infrastructure spending contained in the bill, such as $26 billion of the $30 billion allocated for highways and $15.5 billion of the $18.5 billion for renewable energy projects, will not take place for more than two years — long after economists predict the current recession will have ended.

What’s more, the tax cuts in the package are narrowly targeted, with the largest portion going to more rebate checks, a strategy that failed to reverse our economy’s slide last year.

Even worse, the bill contains all sorts of special-interest and congressional pet spending projects that have virtually nothing to do with economic growth. As just one example, it allocates $335 million to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Not only will this “healthcare” spending do nothing for the health of our economy, CDC has a track record of using such funds for events like a transgender beauty pageant in San Francisco and a conference, entitled “Got Love? Flirt/Date/Score,” that taught participants how “to flirt with greater finesse.”

Rather than burdening today’s and tomorrow’s taxpayers with this massive government spending spree, Congress should create more incentives and opportunities for private-sector jobs and growth by cutting government spending and enacting across-the-board tax cuts for individuals and businesses, like those that helped reverse economic slumps in the 1960s, 1980s, and earlier this decade.

If the Senate follows the House’s lead and passes this borrow-and-spend “stimulus” bill, it will waste record amounts of tax dollars, provide virtually no benefit to the economy, and only add to our nation’s soaring liabilities.

Please tell your Senators today that you want them to vote NO on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act!

Sincerely,

Thomas A. Schatz
President

P.S. If the Senate approves the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, federal lawmakers will have authorized more than $2 trillion in new government spending since February, 2008. While the cost of “jump-starting” the economy is sobering, the coming fiscal mushroom cloud is truly alarming. The national debt currently stands at a mind-numbing $10.6 trillion, and America is sinking into debt at the rate of $3.3 billion per day. Our children and grandchildren simply can’t afford this borrow-and-spend “stimulus” bill. Please deliver that message to your Senators today!

***
The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), the nation’s largest taxpayer watchdog organization with more than one million members and supporters nationwide. CCAGW is a 501(c)(4) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that lobbies for legislation to eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. Contributions to CCAGW are not tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes. For more information about CCAGW, visit www.ccagw.org. Help CCAGW wage and win this battle to stop the Senate from passing this disastrous ”stimulus” bill and burdening future generations with crippling debt by making a contribution to support our grassroots and lobbying efforts today.

Please help us put a stop to this so-called “economic stimulus” bill by contacting your friends and neighbors and urging them to write to their Senators.

The Simulus and the Republicans

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An interesting question to be asked.

Will the Republicans opt to do this, given the gravity of the recession? They are in no mind to allow the bill to go through without substantial changes. The Senate Republicans, just like the House ones, believe that the stimulus bill is something of a Trojan horse. While no one disputes that a big fiscal punch is needed, many items in the current plan (which has been hastily thrown together) will take too long to deliver; at least a third of the House’s $819 billion package will not have been spent 19 months from now, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office.

The Republicans prefer tax cuts, which have the advantage of delivering their punch almost instantly. The problem is that in tough times like these, people are likely to save rather than spend their tax gains especially if—as in this case—the cuts are strictly temporary. Extra saving does nothing to boost demand in an economy that is suffering from a shortage of it. Republicans also object to some of the protectionist “Buy American” provisions attached to some of the money, and to inanities such as a $200m plan to returf the Mall in Washington, DC, (this last has now been removed from the House bill).

A party with a majority can usually pass whatever it likes in the House, but the same is not true in the Senate. Debates in the Senate are not rigidly time-limited as they are in the House, and in order to end discussion and move to a substantive vote, a motion of “clôture”, or closure, has to pass. The snag is that 60 votes are needed to pass such a motion; and the Democrats have only 58 senators. In theory, if the Republicans hang firm—and they held absolutely firm in the House—they could prevent the stimulus bill from ever being put to a full vote.

BARACK OBAMA’S gargantuan stimulus bill moves to the Senate on Monday February 2nd, after passing through the House of Representatives without a single Republican vote in favour. That means that it is in trouble.

via How Senate Republicans will respond to the stimulus bill | Stimulus and the Senate | The Economist.

Hopefully, the Senate Republicans will strip out all of the special interest pork that is within that bill and will pass a bill that will help the economy. Instead of further the socialist agenda of the far left.  But I do not look for any huge sweeping changes. As Michelle Malkin has reported, the Republicans want to play Democrat-lite and go along with Obama’s plans. Wonderful. So much for the loyal opposition guys. 🙄

How about just letting the economy run it’s course and taking the Government’s hands off of it? Instead, they want to play communist-lite and prop up everyone. Yeah, it will work, until China cuts us off, as well as the other Nation’s that are buying our debt.

Sometimes, I really think that the psychos are running the “nuthouse” in Washington D.C. 😮

The Mining Industry feels the pinch

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It is not just the auto industry that is feeling the pinch of the economy, it seems that the mining industry is feeling it as well.

BIG mining companies have suffered an astounding reversal of fortunes in the past few months. As boom has turned to gloom, commodity prices have slumped, leaving mining firms with painful decisions to make. Rio Tinto is the latest to suffer. On Monday February 2nd the Anglo-Australian mining giant was forced to confirm press speculation, acknowledging that it is in talks with Chinalco, a state-owned Chinese aluminium maker. The Chinese firm may agree to a deal to help to alleviate Rio’s debts which were taken on before the credit crunch led to a foundering world economy.

Rio’s debt pile of some $40 billion was mostly run-up through its purchase of Alcan, a Canadian aluminium firm, in 2007. Around $9 billion is due later this year, and refinancing will be a tricky proposition given the parlous state of debt markets. Another $10 billion must be repaid in 2010. Rio has started a firesale of assets: it raised $1.6 billion last week by selling iron ore and potash businesses in Brazil and Argentina to Vale, a Brazilian rival. But prices are depressed and making a sale is not always possible—Rio has still not managed to offload Alcan’s packaging business, although it is reportedly in talks with a potential buyer.

via Rio Tinto, deeply indebted, seeks investment from China  The Economist.

More fall out from a concept floated by the Democrats, that was based entirely upon risk. Thank you Bill Cinton for ruining America. 🙄

Japan’s Economy on the verge of collapse as well.

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Russia is not the only one. Japan now is on the verge of collapse as well.

A reader chided me for not making note of the truly dreadful factory output figures released last Thursday, which showed a fall of 9.6%.

I have to confess that I have fallen into “Japan bad news” syndrome, in that I expect bad news out of Japan and therefore did not focus enough on the details. And while I do not aspire to covering every financial news story (that’s what the MSM is for), the latest figures paint a grim picture, even by our new, desensitized standards.

It wasn’t simply that December was truly awful, but it came on top of a nearly-as-bad November

via naked capitalism: Veneroso: Japan on the Edge of the Abyss.

Again, this is what happens when you inflate a money supply and create a bubble.

Yves continues:

Yves here. I only get the privilege of reading Veneroso now and again, but I cannot recall him taking a tone remotely like what follows:

I have been writing about an Asian black hole for almost two months now. I have been crying from the rooftops about an emerging depression in Japan. It has been as though a neutron bomb had gone off in the world. There was no one who seemed to notice, no one who seemed to listen.

Every week it gets worse and worse and worse. Today it was Japan….

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN DATA THIS BAD FOR ANY MAJOR ECONOMY – EVEN IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION. December industrial production came in down 9.6%, worse than the METI forecast. It is now down almost 21% year over year. METI forecasts a further 4.7% decline in February. The inventory to production ratio soared again. Maybe METI will be correct.

If it is, Japan industrial production will have fallen 28% (non annualized) in four months. It will have fallen by a third in about a year. Nothing in the history of major nations compares. A 28% decline in four months would be more than half of the entire decline in U.S. industrial production over the 3 years and nine months of the U.S. Great Depression.

It would be a greater decline in four months than in any 12 month period in the Great Depression in the U.S. We are literally looking at the unimaginable. (I am attaching the U.S. industrial production index from the Great Depression for comparison).

IT’S A DEPRESSION IN JAPAN – ALREADY – PURE AND SIMPLE.

If this is true, unless President Obama can pull some sort of a miracle out of his rather skinny ass. We are in deep trouble. The reason I say this is because we are in a Globalist Economy, whether we like it or not, and Japan’s failures are our failures as well.

I think it will get much worse, before it gets any better. 🙁

(Via Freedom’s Phoenix)

Communism on the rise in Russia

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Looks like the fall out of the economy is finally hitting Russia.

Russia was rocked today by some of its strongest protests yet as thousands rallied across the vast country to attack the Kremlin’s response to the global economic crisis.

The marches, complete with Soviet-style red flags and banners, pose a challenge to a government which has faced little threat from the fragmented opposition and politically apathetic population during the boom years fuelled by oil.

Pro-government thugs beat up some of the protesters.

About 2,500 people marched across the far eastern port of Vladivostok to denounce the Cabinet’s decision to increase car import tariffs, shouting slogans urging Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to resign. Many there make their living by importing cars.

Meanwhile in Moscow arrests were made as about 1,000 diehard Communists rallied in a central square hemmed in by heavy police cordons.

Communist Party chief Gennady Zyuganov told them the Kremlin must throw out Western capitalism and impose sweeping nationalisation.

via Violent clashes in Russia as angry protesters call for Putin to resign over economy | Mail Online.

This is what happens when you inflate the supply of money, it causes things like this. I think before it is over, you will see a return to the cold war in America. I hope this not to be the case, but I believe the outlook is bleak.

(Via Freedom’s Phoenix)

Andrew Sullivan: Idiot Faux Conservative Douche Nozzle

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Remember that rant by David Duke, regarding Michelle Steele’s election to the Republican Party Chair that I blogged about yesterday?

Well, it seems that a particular faux conservative has once again showed his incredibly liberal side. I am referring to faux conservative, illegal immigrant and Blogosphere resident fake conservative fag boy;  Andrew Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan gives Duke his so-called “Malkin” award.

He is, of course, referring to syndicated columnist, Conservative Blogger and quite the serious MILF;  Michelle Malkin. (Of course, I am kidding about the M.I.L.F. part! (Well, sorta… She is hot, and yes, I’d hit it, given the chance… :D)

Now this is where this blog entry might just veer off into swearing, name calling and a bit of anger, so, to be safe and because I happen to know that my readership has increased. I’m going to start the butt chewing after the fold.

Proceed at your own risk, DANGER! CONTENT WARNING AFTER THE FOLD!

Read More …

Can you feel the love?

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Peter Hitchens writes:

If I never again had to read or write a word about homosexuals, I would be very happy. I really don’t want to know what other people do in their bedrooms. But these days they really, really want us all to know. And, more important, they insist that we approve. No longer are we allowed to keep our thoughts to ourselves, while being polite and kind.

We are forced to say that we think homosexuality is a good thing, that homosexual couples are equal in all ways to heterosexual married couples. Most emphatically, we are compelled to agree that homosexual couples are just as good at bringing up children as the children’s own grandparents. Better, in fact.

Many people who believe nothing of the kind now know that their careers in politics, the media, the Armed Services, the police or schools will be ruined if they ever let their true opinions show. I am sure that many of them regularly lie about their views, to avoid such trouble.

We cringe to the new Thought Police, like the subjects of some insane, sex-obsessed Stalinist state, compelled to wave our little rainbow flags as the ‘Gay Pride’ parade passes by.

And that’s another thing. We can’t even call homosexuals ‘homosexuals’ any more. This neutral word is not considered enthusiastic enough. We have to say ‘gay’. Which is exactly why I don’t, apart from in inverted commas.

Ouch. Wow, that I was a wee bit harsh…. and this is in the U.K. no less!

Others: The Other McCain

John Amato is full of crap

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Once again, liberal loon John Amato is caught talking out his rather large bazoo:

Referring to the comment, that I thought was absolutely awesome:

He shouldn’t be back on the shows. MSNBC has a duty not to invite him back on. Why is that such a hard concept to grasp? Republicans can say absolutely anything on the airwaves (women get the brunt of it) and never have to pay a price for it.

via There should be a penalty for Armey’s sexist comment to Joan Walsh | Crooks and Liars.

Uh, John, once again, you open your pot hole, before you know what the hell your even talking about. Does anyone remember Don Imus?

For those with the short memories:

So, John, please, stick to what you know; Because obviously, you don’t know what the fuck you’re even talking about. Damn liberal idiot. 🙄

Michael Steele-Gate continues

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I wrote on this earlier, but now it seems that even more blowback from the far fringes of the Republican Party are now bellowing about the election of Michael Steele to the Republican Party’s National chair position. This time from no other than the God-Father and Master of Ceremonies of White Nationalism himself, Former Klansman and Republican Representative of Louisiana David Duke, who goes on, what can only be called a nuclear nut:

The Republican Party leadership in its latest act of self-immolation appointed, Michael Steele, a radical Black racist as the leader of the Party.

Steele is a passionate supporter of affirmative action programs that racially discriminate against tens of millions of White Americans. He also supports increased discrimination against White owned businesses in the awarding of non-merit and non-bid minority contracts. He is opposed to the death penalty and thinks that it is disproportionately applied to Blacks even though it is applied to White murderers at 500 percent higher than it is to Black murderers. He is also an advocate of more gun control legislation as well as a draconian, massively increased enforcement of the current laws. He is a servile dog of Israel and has condemned Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorists and yet said not a word of compassion for the 5,000 (half of them women and children) who have been maimed and murdered in Gaza by Israel’s weapons of mass destruction. He says that he would still support the Iraq War and the loss of 50,000 maimed Americans, 4500 killed and trillions in cost, even though the reason for the war (Weapons of Mass Destruction) was proven to be a lie.

When a reporter for the Washington Post interviewed me on the appointment, this is what I said:

I am glad these traitorous leaders of the Republican Party appointed this Black racist, affirmative action advocate to the head of the Republican party because this will lead to a huge revolt among the Republican base. As a former Republican official, I can tell you that millions of rank-and-file Republicans are mad as hell and aren’t going to take it anymore! We will either take the Republican Party back over the next four years or we will say, “To Hell With the Republican Party!” And we will take 90 percent of Republicans with us into a New Party that will take its current place!

I think the insanity of nominating “Mr. Amnesty” John McCain and now this Black racist — will lead to insurgency in the Republican ranks, and a lot of dissidents getting elected in Republican Party primaries around the country. This will result over the next four years a real move by millions of Republicans to take the party back to the populist issues that are not only right but can win for the Republican Party. We must end affirmative action, protect our gun rights and all our constitutional rights, have a moratorium on immigration, we must have protectionism, yes I said protect American businesses and their workers from NAFTA and GATT and the lie of free trade, and we must have America First, not foreign interventionism. Our boys should be home protecting the American borders a not being murdered on the borders of Iraq or Afghanistan. The time as come for Republican Party to stand up to Obama and defend American heritage, rights, and freedom!

Man, Wow. Surprise You think he might be just a wee bit angry? Duke goes on to call Michael Steel, “Obama Junior”.  Doh

However, he does make some very valid points:

Some excerpts of media and direct quotes by Steele:

RNC Chairman Michael Steele Pledges Action RNC Chairman Michael Steele Pledges Action
January 30, 2009 by Michael Thompson in Associated Content

Some delegates at the RNC Chairman’s election in Washington, Michael Steele’s hometown, opposed Steele on the basis that he is not politically conservative enough for their tastes. This reflects the philosophic divisions that have afflicted the Republican National Committee at various times through history, most recently during the past three years. Michael Steele opposes the death penalty and supports affirmative action, unlike most Republicans.

Steele says he want more discrimination against White-owned businesses

Michael chaired a 17-member task force devoted to reforming Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), which works to provide more opportunities for minority-owned small businesses and further spur job growth and economic vitality. There are 82,000 minority-owned businesses in the state, accounting for 20% of all Maryland firms. Maryland ranks 2nd in the nation in having the most minority-owned businesses.

Source: Campaign site, MichaelSteeleForMaryland.com, “On the Issues” May 2, 2006

Steele wants stronger gun control laws and harder enforcement of the draconian laws on the books

Steele: “Society should draw lines. What do you need an assault weapon for, if you’re going hunting? That’s overkill. But I don’t think that means you go to a total ban for those who want to use gun for skeet shooting or hunting or things like that But what’s the point of passing gun laws if we’re not going to enforce them? If you want to talk about gun control, that’s where you need to start. We’ve got 300 gun laws on the books right now. At the end of the day, it’s about how we enforce the law.”

Source: Washington Post interview Oct 16, 2006

Opposed to the death penalty and thinks that is is disproportionately applied to Blacks (When in fact Whites receive a dramatically disproportionate percentage of death penalties.

Steele is personally opposed to the death penalty, but he has not publicly expressed his opinion on two executions [in Maryland]. Nor, he said, did he privately try to dissuade Gov. Ehrlich from signing the execution orders. He did, however, volunteer to undertake a study of the fairness of the death penalty to determine if minorities and the poor in Maryland receive a disproportionate share of death sentences. But that was in 2003, and three years later he has still not produced a finished report.

Source: By Michael Sokolove, New York Times Mar 26, 2006

Would still vote for the Iraq war even there were no weapons of mass destruction

I would think we’d still prosecute the war. But what I would do, if we’re going to do it, let’s make sure we have the right complement of personnel on the ground and that we are looking forward in this and not looking backwards. And that’s where I am right now: What are we going to do, what is our strategy to begin to move our soldiers home and have Iraqi government and leadership move forward and keeping what they want in Iraq?

Source: 2006 Maryland Senate debate on Meet the Press Oct 29, 2006

Works against the American business and their workers

Steele Supports Free Trade and actually led a trade mission to Africa where he called for no tariffs on these nation’s products where workers are paid a few cents per day. Such a policy would of course undermine American companies, American employment and wages.

“As Maryland’s Lieutenant Governor, Michael Steele led an historic trade mission to Ghana and South Africa to advance opportunities for small businesses in Maryland to bring their goods and services to the global market. In the United States Senate, Michael Steele will continue a growth-oriented dialogue with countries all over the world to advance the interests of Maryland businesses and to help them compete in an ever-changing global economy.”

Source: Campaign website, www.michaelsteeleformaryland.com, “Issues” Oct 25, 2006

Betrays the Republican base states!

Can Michael Steele lead GOP out of woods? Republican National Committee picks first black chair
By RICHARD SISK Daily News Washington Bureau, January 30th 2009

“Steele quickly pledged to break the current mold of the GOP as a southern and southwestern stronghold and reach out to reclaim the party’s former base in New York and the Northeast.”

So, while I can see why Duke does not like the guy. It is the whole framing of his arguments that bug me to death. I mean, it’s the whole “Servile Dog of Israel” business that turns me off. I mean, can understand Duke’s feelings. But does he have to swerve into the Israel Bashing? 🙄

Of course, the Liberals are just loving this stuff. They’re listed below…

Others: Jack & Jill Politics, Ben Smith’s Blogs, Pam’s House Blend, Booman Tribune, Alas, a blog,  and The Raw Story

Not everyone likes the idea of Michelle Steele being G.O.P. Chair

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This is quite interesting, Via VDare’s Blog:

Apparently Chairmanship of the Republican National Committee has become another of those positions, like being head of an Ivy League school or Governor of the Federal Reserve, to which white men of Christian heritage Need Not Apply.

The clique which controls the RNC has just ordained failed Maryland Senate candidate and professional Black Michael Steele: Michael Steele becomes first black RNC chairman By Liz Sidoti Associated Press January 31 2009-01-31

Steele was preceded by professional Hispanic Senator Mel Martinez (R-Cuba) who has apparently found masquerading as a Republican Senator – now the brilliant leadership supplied by his cronies has cost the GOP the House, Senate, and White House – too much like work. (Martinez dropped out of the RNC position in late 2007 and his assistant Mike Duncan served as stop-gap.) Martinez succeeded hereditary open borders fanatic Ken Mehlman.

There is an irony here. Steele was already being prepared for Coronation in 2006 when the Rove/Mehlman crowd realized that somebody has put some sensible immigration remarks on Steele’s Senate Campaign website. So he was dumped.

Interesting indeed.